"Something like this is good for the region. But the question is, what will be its power and functions," CPM district secretariat member K B Wattar said on Saturday. GJM secretary Roshan Giri said such a secretariat would be good for the people of North Bengal but emphasized that the GJM was demanding a "separate entity" for the Gorkhas."Our demand for a separate entity for Gorkhas remains topmost in our list. We know Mamata is capable and hope she will see our demand positively," said Giri. Four GJM MLAs and Giri were present at the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister and met Mamata, who promised to visit Darjeeling soon. "She will come soon and we will sit for talks with our demand and after getting her views, chalk out our programme," said Giri.
The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League, whose leader Madan Tamang was murdered last year, first wants restoration of peace and democracy in the Hills. "Introduction of a new set-up like a mini secretariat must be preceded by normalization of situation. We have the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, but how it is functioning is known to all. For people to benefit, the government must first restore peace and democracy," said ABGL secretary Laxman Pradhan.
The people of Darjeeling want the Trinamool Congress-led government to find a permanent solution to problems facing the Hills. "The new government must identify a permanent solution and not rely on temporary measures. A separate state may not be possible immediately but the new government must be ready to say what and how much it can provide," said former ADM, S B Zimba. He welcomed the announcement of Mamata about the formation of a mini secretariat for North Bengal. "As far as the Hills is concerned, establishing a separate secretariat will not have much relevance. The DGHC is already there& However, for other districts of the region, it will definitely help," said Zimba.
-TOI
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